Pathways from Authoritarianism

Issue Date January 2007
Volume 18
Issue 1
Page Numbers 143-156
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This paper uses a new typology of authoritarian regimes to explore the extent to which regime type explains the survival (and breakdown) of non-democratic regimes as well as the impact of different types of authoritarian regimes on democratic development. Our results demonstrate that different types of authoritarian regime face different propensities to develop toward democracy. Hence the nature of the authoritarian regime in question deserves to be added to the list of democracy’s essential preconditions. One regime type—the limited multiparty system—stands out as the prime stepping stone to democracy. The fact that this regime type has become the most common form of authoritarianism can be seen as a promising sign for the future.

About the Authors

Axel Hadenius

Axel Hadenius is professor of political science at Lund University in Sweden. His main interests are international democratization and state administrative capacity. He is the author of Democracy and Development (1992) and Institutions and Democratic Citizenship (2001).

View all work by Axel Hadenius

Jan Teorell

Jan Teorell is professor of political science at Lund University.

View all work by Jan Teorell

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